Please forward any membership or ULS directory changes to either Cathy Guarcello or Marybeth Edwards, Membership co-chairs at:
Stohlman Library
St. Elizabeth's
Medical Center
736 Cambridge St.
Boston, MA 02135
Tel: (617) 789-2177; Fax: (617) 789-5081; Email: cguarcel@world.std.com
or mbedward@world.std.com
The Executive Board will be meeting at Newton-Wellesley Hospital on the following dates [meetings are open to all MAHSLIN members]:
February 6, 1997 (9:30 a.m.)
April 3, 1997
(9:30 a.m.)
The minutes of each meeting are posted to MAHSLIN-L approximately a month after the meeting. If you are not a subscriber to MAHSLIN-L, contact Nancy Harger for a copy [tel: 508-687-1121 x275; email: mhl@ultranet.com].
Enclosed in this issue of the MAHSLIN Network News is a membership renewal form for 1997. Please renew as soon as possible so that the membership directory to be distributed in April will include your listing.
Committees are now forming to host the 1998 NAHSL Annual Meeting at the Boston Park Plaza, September 27-29, 1998. Much assistance will be needed to present a high quality conference. Please contact any of the following chairs if you would like to join the fun [and wear one of those funky ribbons on your badge at the conference]:
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) has received state funding to reconfigure the regional library districts and to eventually electronically link "all" libraries in the state. Committees are already working on strategic plans for future funding and activities that are due by the end of June. Since the MBLC's plans will affect everyone, there is room for all librarians' participation on the committees. Further information can be obtained from the following MAHSLIN members who are already involved in their regions:
As of October 1, 1996, two of Boston's Harvard-affiliated teaching hospitals, Beth Israel Hospital and Deaconess Hospital merged to form the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. For the time being, the two separate libraries will be maintained as the Agoos Medical Library at the East (BI) Campus (Margo Coletti, Librarian; margo@bidmc.harvard.edu) and the Horrax Library at the West (Deaconess) Campus (Paul Vaiginas, Librarian; pvaigina@west.bidmc.harvard.edu). For snail-mailing purposes, only their institution's name has been changed.
"Change does not necessarily assure progress, but progress implacably requires change." -- Henry Steel Commager
The Leonard Morse campus of Columbia MetroWest Medical Center in Natick has certainly experienced its share of change and progress recently. Within the last four years, both the library and hospital have experienced some growing pains. Leonard Morse Hospital merged with Framingham Union Hospital in 1992 to form the MetroWest Medical Center. Last May, Columbia/HCA purchased MetroWest Medical Center to become the first for-profit hospital in Massachusetts. As a result of the merger, a number of hospital services have been consolidated and centered on one of its two campuses. For example, Pediatrics and Maternity moved to the Framingham campus. Psychiatric services and Endoscopy are now centered on the Leonard Morse campus. Thankfully, administration realized the need for library services at both facilities. The space that the library occupied for over 15 years -- central to the ER, OR and the ICU was needed to renovate and enlarge the Endoscopy unit. A new space, opposite the Administrative office and adjacent to the auditorium, was created for the library. This area is bright, open and more spacious than the old library location.
Rhoda Moskowitz, the librarian at the Leonard Morse campus since 1984, is very happy with her new surroundings. At first, she was wary that the staff would be reluctant to travel to the new location, as some people are not always amenable to change. However, they were pleased with the new computer space and the inviting new arrangement of materials. Approximately 25% more floor space was gained in the move. It was important to reconfigure the space so that patrons could relax, study, rad current journals and books and also utilize available technology services. Ms. Moskowitz was able to install four new computer workstations for hospital staff. The hospitals are networked and a T1 line was installed for Internet access. Networking enables both campuses to share software programs such as Micromedex, Scientific American Medicine, and Maxx (Little Brown Series). With instruction and support, many computer phobics on staff have "crossed over" to the technology arena. The hospital staff has become quite comfortable ustilizing the OVID search engine for MEDLINE reference. Numerous Internet resources have been bookmarked to accommodate community inquiries. This increase in traffic has generated a lot of enthusiasm for the library.
In order to accommodate these changes, journal and monograph holdings were reduced by at least 25%. It was difficult to downsize the collection, but with the support of the Framingham campus, which houses over 200 journal titles, this "weeding" is hardly noticeable. Both campus' holdings are listed on their OVID database. Their policy is to fax all interlibrary loans between the two campuses so patrons feel that services are seamless. A large number of the hospital staff utilize their Current Awareness service that includes tables of contents from both campuses.
The Columbia MetroWest libraries belong to the Consortium for Information Resources (CIR) and BBLC. CIR members send all new records to the consortium cataloguer so holding records can be centrally maintained. In 1994, CIR purchased the Autographics SLiMS database, which enables member libraries to have their own book catalog online. Monograph holdings for both MetroWest campuses are available online in the library and can be borrowed intra-campus within one day.
In 1996, every hospital department experienced reduction in staffing; the library was no exception. Jody Collins, Reference Librarian on the Framingham campus, took another position within the hospital. As a result, the Leonard Morse campus library is staffed four full days a week and Rhoda Moskowitz travels to the Framingham campus on Fridays to assist the staff.
The changes within the institution over the past four years have not been easy. It has been difficult for the hospital staff on many levels, but they are emerging as a stronger unified force in the health care arena eager to progress on that "bridge to the twenty-first century..."
NECHI voted at its meeting on September 10 to approve the application for membership from Cambridge Hospital. NECHI welcomes Jenny Lee, Librarian at Cambridge Hospital Medical Library to its membership. Jenny can be reached by telephone at 617-498-1439 or by email at tchlib@world.std.com.
Although NECHI welcomes a new member in Cambridge Hospital, it has recently lost a long-time member in Holy Family Hospital in Methuen. In September, Chin-Soon Han's hours were cut dramatically from 24 to 8 hours per week. At her request, a letter was sent to the president of the hospital expressing NECHI's concerns and enforcing its bylaws, terminating Holy Family's membership in NECHI. NECHI's Bylaws clearly state under membership eligibility that "an individual shall be appointed by the institution to manage the library. This individual must be a paid employee of the institution and should work a minimum of 20 hours a week in the library." Chin-Soon has been a member of NECHI for a very long time, and she will be missed.
NECHI hosted a joint meeting with BBLC on September 10 at the Newton Marrriott. The focus of this meeting was a technology show by Readmore. The meeting was attended by approximately 30 librarians from both consortia. Thanks to Denise Slifer and everyone from Readmore who gave presentations.
At a recent meeting, a demonstration of "First Search" was provided by Joan Moquin of NELINET. The consortium is considering buying blocks of searches to be used by members. Also, a review of the "Right-On" library software was presented by Linda Ashley of New England Sinai Hospital.
At the January, 1997 meeting at Youville Lifecare in Cambridge, Librarian Galina Lembersky will give a demonstration of useful Internet sites.
On December 31, Lovisa Kamenoff retired from Brockton Hospital. Vi had been with Brockton Hospital since 1966, when she became the School of Nursing librarian. A year later, she took on the responsibility of the "Doctors' Library" as well. In 1968, Brockton Hospital reached an agreement with Boston University to take medical students. As part of this agreement, the nursing and doctors' libraries were combined and expanded. In 1970, the newly renovated library opened to the public in addition to the staff of Brockton Hospital.
In the late 1960's, Vi and hospital librarians from the Brockton VA, Goddard Hospital, and Cushing Hospital formed a network to share resources. Journal holdings lists were shared. Later, this group expanded to include Cape Cod and other area libraries. Eventually, this group became SEMCO.
Over the years, Vi has witnessed many changes in hospital libraries--from MEDLINE to CD-ROM to the Internet. The most notable chnge has been in technology. "You're never up-to-date," said Vi. "You're always catching up."
In retirement, Vi plans to do some more writing. Vi published several articles on hospital library management in the 1970's, but has other topics in mind now.
As for the SEMCO members, we will greatly miss Vi. She has been a mentor to many of our members, and was only a phone call away for advice or helpful hints. We wish Vi many happy, healthy years ahead.
Doris Alleman retired from her position after 10 years of service as Librarian at Wing Memorial Hospital in Palmer. The hospital is recruiting an immediate replacement for the position of part-time librarian.
Elizabeth Sheehan retired from her position after 26 years of service as Director of the Elaine Marieb Nicpon Library at Holyoke Community College.
Judith A. Campbell has been appointed as the new Director of the Elaine Marieb Nicpon Library at Holyoke Community College. Judith previously served as Reference Librarian at the library.
The reorganization of focus and functions from acute care to behavioral health at Providence Hospital, Holyoke, MA, resulted in the closing of the Schimmel Library and Information Center. Mary Guyett, who served for 14 years as Medical Librarian is currently seeking and considering similar positions. Many of the periodical titles were relocated to the Mercy Hospital Health Sciences Library, but are currently inaccessible. The Schimmel Library book collection no longer exists.
Fran Becker, Director, Resources Management at Baystate Medical Center Health Sciences Library, is serving as Treasurer for CLGS, the Cooperating Libraries of Greater Springfield.
Donna Kurkel's Bookmarks (http://pages.map.com/~dkurkel) were featured as MedNet Link of the Week for October 28, 1996 at the MedNet Links - TM site, a service of COR Healthcare Resources. Donna serves as an Editorial Advisory Board member for Medicine on the Net.
WHMIC sponsored an exciting and educational winter meeting hosted at Shriners Hospital in Springfield on Friday, December 13. Presenters were Margaret J. Larson, contributing author to the Special Edition: Using Netscape3 [by Mark Brown, et al. Indianapolis: Que Corp.]. She is also founding partner of Wintergreen Associates, located in Western Mass., specializing in the design and maintenance of commercial Web sites, with a focus on forms/CGI programming, management and analysis of databases, and market research. She provided a behind-the-scenes look at what and how forms are created, used, and maintained on servers, with emphasis on the low-maintenance and "configurable" software that she has created. The second speaker was Bill Densmore, representing Newshare Corporation, who illustrated how the company uses forms and its Clickshare software to register users for nominal fee-based pass tokens to access proprietary and copyrighted web-published information, such as The Christian Science Monitor. He discussed the implications of web publishing, journal access, and potential implications for libraries. Bill Mitchell, the cyberspace trademark and copyright attorney infamous for representing the Ninja Turtle enterprise, concluded the presentation by summarizing the legal and ethical issues, and their effects upon trademark, copyright, and privacy as they relate to publishing, citing, and other uses of content on the Internet.
Nancy Callander, Librarian at Emerson Hospital, has had her hours reduced from full-time to 25 hours per week.
Lowell General Hospital has a library position open -- 75% is medical staff CME responsibility.
St. Luke's Hospital has merged with Tobey Hospital and Charlton Hospital to become the South Coast Hospital Group.
The CD-ROM product, Attorneys Medical Advantage [publisher: Clark Boardman Callaghan] integrates Attorneys Medical Advisor (with links to selected MEDLINE abstracts), Attorneys Medical Atlas, and Stedman's Medical Dictionary. It "provides authoritative, plain language medical explanations and over 300 full-color illustrations that enhance and improve settlement negotiations and trial presentations."
If you only need e-mail, two free providers are available: JUNO [1-800-654-5866 or access them at www.juno.com] and Freemark [http://www.freemark.com]. The services are supported by advertising.
A new, free service to librarians, EBSCO's Library Reference Center is a database that consists of indexing and abstracts from over 30 library science publications. It can be accessed through EBSCO's home page [http://www.epnet.com].
A reminder from Mark Gentry that NAHSL has a home page located on the NNLM_NER server at the UConn Health Center with the address http://nnlmner.uchc.edu/nahsl.
If you don't have enough to read already, you can get a free subscription to Online User by accessing its home page [http://www.onlineinc.com/oluser]. The site also has links to back issues and sites and services mentioned in each issue.
Smartbooks.com [http://www.smartbooks.com] is a selective listing of current books about the Internet, arranged by categories.
For budding web-masters and web-teachers, two articles of interest appeared in the November/December issue (v.16 #10) of Computers in Libraries. "Web Page UNIX for Beginners" (p. 34-35,38) discusses the steps and commands necessary to actually put a web page on the server. A very detailed discussion of how to educate users on evaluating the web appears in "Teaching Critical Evaluation Skills for World Wide Web Resources" (p.49-52,54-55).
The Pre-Renovation Special Projects staff at Countway Library needs approximately 25 book trucks for use through June 30, 1997. If anyone has extra trucks that they might borrow during this time period or knows a book truck rental resource they might use, please let them know. Contact: Phylllis Askey (tel: 617-432-2639; email: paskey@warren.med.harvard.edu).
TITLE: Manager of Library Services (32-40 hours per week)
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: Interviews, hires, and evaluates library staff. Communicates hospital policies and procedures to staff. Plans and submits proposals for Capital, Supplies, and Manpower budgets each year and expends them within the limits appropriated. Establishes library policies and procedures. Selects all health science databases, database vendors and database formats. Selects and orders all books and journals. Classifies and plans organization of the collection. Conducts literature search interviews. Performs CD-ROM literature searches in the MEDLINE, Health, and Nursing literature and other databases as requested. Teaches clients the basic mechanics of CD-ROM searching as needed. Assists all library users with indexes, files, locations of various materials and provides reference services to all library users. Formally and informally orients new clients to the Library. Promotes library services. Establishes agenda and is an officer of the Hospital and School of Nursing Library Committees. Advises School of Nursing and other hospital departments on book, journal, and AV selections for their areas. Enacts interlibrary cooperative agreements.
EDUCATION AND REQUIREMENTS: ALA-accredited MLS with preparation in health sciences librarianship. Good knowledge of medical terminology and personal computer skills.
GOOD BENEFITS; SALARY COMMENSURATE WITH EXPERIENCE
Position is available in January. For more information, contact: Brockton Hospital, Human Resource Department, Attn: Robin Kirby, 680 Centre St., Brockton, MA 02402 (tel: 508-941-7000).
The following MAHSLIN members have new e-mail addresses:
Please join us for MAHSLIN's 1997 Annual Meeting, Role Enhancements with Technology Advancements, to be held at the Sheraton Tara Lexington Inn (727 Marrett Road), located in Lexington, MA, at the junction of Routes 128 (I-95) and 2A at Exit 30B, adjacent to Hanscom Air Force Base. Inserted in this issue of the newsletter is the conference program and even a registration form! The purpose of this early distribution of the program is to allow members with busy schedules to plan for this day away from the library. The early distribution of the registration form is in response to members' requests that ample time be provided for the issuing of an institution check.
This hotel is accessible by public transportation. A bus from Alewife Station at the end of the Red Line passes the hotel.
A special note of thanks to Program Chair, Alison Clapp, and committee members Peg Spinner and Chris Nims for putting together a dynamic program.
"Reformatting for Preservation and
Access"
Sponsored by NELINET
NEDCC, Andover, MA
February 5,
1997
Contact: NELINET
Tel: (617) 969-0400 or (800)
NELINET
"The Information Connection: Emerging Technologies Linking
Patients and Providers"
Presented by the University of
Vermont
Sheraton Hotel & Conference Center, Burlington,
VT
February 5,6&7, 1997
Contact: Jennifer Nachbur
[jnachbur@zoo.uvm.edu]
"Disaster Preparedness"
Sponsored by
NELINET
NEDCC, Andover, MA
March 6, 1997
Contact: NELINET
Tel: (617) 969-0400 or (800) NELINET
"The Future for Librarians:
Positioning Yourself for Success"
A Satellite Video Conference
sponsored by the
Am.Assn. of Law Libraries, MLA, SLA, and
LEXIS-NEXIS
March 20, 1997, 2:00-3:30 p.m. [Mass. site(s) to be
announced]
ACRL/New England Chapter Annual Spring
Conference
Wheaton College, Norton, MA
March 20-21, 1997
NEHA
Annual Meeting
"Healthcare & the Internet: Real Benefits for
Patients & Providers"
Boston, MA
March 25, 1997
National
Library Week
April 13-19, 1997
Massachusetts Library
Association
Sturbridge, MA
April 28-29, 1997
MAHSLIN Annual
Meeting
Sheraton Tara Lexington Inn, Rts. 2A & 128, Lexington,
MA
April 29, 1997
Contact: Celeste Kozlowski, Carr Health Sciences
Library, Somerville Hospital, Somerville, MA
Tel: (617) 666-4400x301;
Fax: (617) 625-0628; E-mail: ceekozl@aol.com
40th Annual NAHSL
Conference [North Atlantic Health Science Libraries]
Radisson Hotel,
Burlington, VT
September 27-30, 1997
The editors encourage your input of news and comment to future issues of MAHSLIN Network News. If you would like these considered for publication, please contact:
Deadlines for submissions are March 20, 1997 for the April 1997 issue, and June 20 for the July 1997 issue.